Well-tube support.



L. L. RICHARD.

WELL TUBE SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1914.

1 175,298. Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

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Witnesses Z 4 I p Attorney;

LEROY L. RICHARD, OF COALINGA, CALIFORNIA.

WELL-TUBE SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

Application filed November 5, 1914. Serial No. 870,484.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEROY L. RICHARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at .Coalinga, in the county of Fresno and State of California, have invented a new and useful Well-Tube Support, of which the following is a specification.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing :Figure 1 shows the invention in longitudinal section; Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective of one of the keys.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral 1 indicates a tubular well casing. Lo-

' cated within the well casing l is a main tubing, the same comprising a lower part 2 and an upper part 3, the latter being of any desired length, and the parts 2 and 3 of the main tubing being united by a threaded coupling 4 or otherwise. The exterior of the part 2 of the main tubing is threaded as shown at 5 to receive for vertical adjustment, an abutment 6 preferably in the form of a ring. The ring 6 is provided with a plurality of upright seats, the bases of which are downwardly and inwardly inclined. Located in the seats 7 are wedge-shaped keys 8 the outer surfaces of which may be serrated as shown at 9 to cooperate with the well casing 1 under circumstances which will be pointed out hereinafter. Adjacent its lower end, the part 2 of the main tubing is provided with a shoulder or projection of some sort, preferably although not necessarily taking the form of a ring 10 threaded as shown at 11, onto the said part 2. Surrounding the lower portion of the element 2 and supported by the shoulder or projection 10 is a compression spring 12.

Located Within the well casing 1 and supported by the spring 12 is a weight, preferably taking thev form of one part 14 of an auxiliary tubing, the part 14 being connected to another, lower portion 15. If desired, the parts 14 and 15 of the auxiliary tubing may be threaded together as shown at 16. Adjacent its upper end, the part 14 of the auxiliary tubing is provided with an inwardly extended projection which may be in the form of an annular shoulder 17, the shoulder 17 engaging the upper end of the compression spring 12 so that the auxiliary tubing is supported by the compression spring. The keys 8 in the seats 7 of the abutment 6 rests upon the upper end of the part 14 of the auxiliary tubing. ,1

The adjustment of the structure is as follows :-The elements 5 and 14 are located at any point intermediate the ends of a well tubing, the spring 12 being compressed by the lower portion of the tubing. The abutment 6 which is threaded onto the member 2 is rotated to effect a vertical adjustment thereof, thereby'permitting the keys 8 to be retracted sufiiciently so that they are out of engagement with the casing 1 when the de-' vice is in the casing as shown in Fig. 1.

So long as the string of tubing remains continuous and unbroken, the same may be raised and lowered in the casing 1 without causing the keys 8 to engage the casing.

The advantages flowing from this feature are obvious, but as will be understood, the keys 8 are not worn by contact with the casing and at the same time, a raising and lowering of the tubing may take place without difliculty. Let it be supposed, however, that the portion 3 of the main tubing breaks. Then the parts 2 and 3 of the main tubing will move downwardly within the portion 14 of the auxiliary tubing, this last specified element remaining comparatively at rest, first, owing to its interia, and secondly, owing to the fact that it is pressed upwardly by the action of the spring 12. The member 14, therefore, supports the keys 8 against downward movement, and as the main tubing 23 moves downwardly, the abutment ring 6 cooperates with the keys 8 and forces the same outwardly into engagement with the casing 1. A dropping of the tubing, therefore, will be prevented. So soon, however, as the main tubing 3:2 is raised, the hold of the keys 8 on the casing 1 will be released.

The construction of the device is such that the entire string of tubing when connected and unbroken, may be moved downwardly or upwardly, or be reciprocated in the casing 1 without bringing the keys 8 into gripping relation with respect to the casing 1. So soon, however, as the tubing breaks, as above specified, the lower portion of the tubing will be gripped firmly upon the casing, and may be removed therefrom by a suitable fishing tool ofthe sort used by those skilled in the art.

The function of the spring 12 is to impart to the main tubing 3-2, a sudden down ward movement independently of the auxiliary tubing 1415, thereby to render the ring 6 efi'ective as a key actuating means,

so soon as the main tubing has become severed or broken.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a casing; a maintubing within the casing; an abutment on the main tubing and a key slidably engaged with the abutment, the abutment and the key having mutually inclined surfaces coacting to move the key laterally into engagement with the casing when the key is supported against downward movement and when the main tubing moves downwardly; a compression spring upheld by the main tubing; and a weight engaging the upper end of the spring to maintain the spring compressed, the weight being in supporting engagement with the key, and the main tubing being downwardly movable independently of the weight.

2. in a device of the class described, a casing; a main tubing within the casing; an abutment on the main tubing and a 'key slidably engaged with the abutment, the abutment and the key having mutually inclined surfaces coacting to move the key laterally into engagement with the casing when the key is supported against downward movement and when the main tubing moves downwardly; a compression spring upheld by the main tubing; and av weight engaging the upper end of the spring to maintain the spring compressed, the weight being in supporting engagement with the key, and the main tubing being downwardly movable independently of the weight; the abutment being adjustable longitudinally of the main tubing thereby to permit the key to stand normally out of engagement with the casing.

8. In a device of the class described, a

. a main tubing in the casing and extended slidably into the auxiliary tubing, the main and auxiliary tubings being provided with shoulders; a compression spring interposed between the shoulders; a casing-engaging key supported by the auxiliary tubing; and an abutment longitudinally adjustable on the main tubing, the abutment and the key having mutually inclined parts coacting to move the key into casing-engaging relation when the main tubing moves downwardly.

5. In a device of the class described, a casing; an auxiliary tubing in the casing; a main tubing in the casing and extending slidably into the auxiliary tubing, the main and auxiliary tubings being provided with shoulders; a compression spring interposed between the shoulders; a casing-engaging key supported by the auxiliary tubing; and an abutment threaded onto the main tubing, the abutment and the key having mutually inclined parts coacting to move the key into engagement with the casing when the main tubing moves downwardly.

6. In a device of the class described, a casing; relatively slidable telescoped main and auxiliary tubes in the casing; means connected with the tubes for limiting the downward movement of the auxiliary tube with respect to the main tube; a casing-en gaging key supported on the auxiliary tube; and means on the main tube for actuating the key into casing-engaging position when the main tube moves downwardly.

7. In av device of the class described, a

casing; a main tube within the casing; a weight suspended from the main tube, the

main tube being downwardly movable independently of the weight; a casing-engaging key supported by the weight; and means on the main tube for actuating the key into casing-engaging position when the main tube moves downwardly.

8. In a device of the class described, a casing; 21 main tube within the casing; a weight suspended from the main tube, the main tube being downwardly movable in:- dependently of the weight; a casing-engaging key supported by the weight; and an abutment adjustable longitudinally on the main tube, the abutment and the key being provided with mutually inclined surfaces co carried by the main tube for. moving the key into casing-engaging position, when the main tube moves downwardly.

Intestimony that I claim the foregoing 15 as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEROY L. RICHARD.

Witnesses: HANS R. SUMPF, FRANK DUNCAN. 

